I suppose the most reliable truism I've learned about politics in my 49 years is that hateful people will always be at war with people who don't deserve to be hated. No matter what coordinates in history one picks to test the thesis, hate has never failed to lay siege against reason for the sake of power. It will keep happening throughout the Obama administration and as far into the future as one might peer.

Is this my fifth rotation in the culture wars? Or my 5,000th? I can't remember anymore.

Last year, it was racism and xenophobia. Then socialism. Terrorism. The accusations rained down like beating fists. This year came charges of fiscal recklessness. Then socialism again. Foreign born-ism. Communism. And now Jokerbama, Hitler or Dr. Mengele -- your choice -- as the personification of Nazism. As the face of our president and we who elected him.

Why can't the haters make up their hive mind?

Because it knows only hate. After economic stimulus came health care. Next it will be financial regulation. And rounding out the year will be immigration. The issue du jour will change. Red meat will always be on the menu.

Buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride. A long war.